It was a sunny Monday in Tree Hill and about the time to classes start when Brooke spotted Lucas walking a little ahead of her. She rushed to him and took his hand while leaning to kiss him on the cheek.

"Morning, boyfriend!"

"Hey, there" he smiled and kissed her on the lips, "How's practice yesterday? You didn't call me after so I assume it was... long?"

"Oh, haven't you heard? Haley tripped and twisted her ankle so we had to take her to the hospital which delayed the practice in over an hour! Afterwards we started all over again, without her and kept going 'til I don't know when. By the end of the day I was so beaten I just went home, hit the shower and dropped in bed. Sorry..."

"Whoa" he said somewhat impressed, "You sure have a lot of breath to just dish it all at once like that" he giggled, "But come back to Haley, is she ok?"

"I guess so" she shrugged, "Tutor husband was there to hold her hand so I'm guessing she's terrific!"

They kept walking 'til Rachel saw them coming towards her and went ahead to meet them halfway and greet them.

"Top of the morning!" she said cheerfully.

Brooke was clearly annoyed, "It was up until now."

"Say Brooke, can I have a word with you?"

"As long it's the word 'no'."

Lucas felt the awkwardness between them but didn't say anything. Rachel tilted her head staring at him for a while.

"That's a really great shirt you got there, Luke. It really pops up your..." she stops to think and shrugs, "Teeth?"

"Thanks" he said not even faking appreciation.

"Seriously now, I need to talk with my Captain" she said smiling.

Shaking her head, Brooke waved her hand in the air and turned to Lucas, "It's like a band aid, the faster you pull, less the pain. I'll meet you later" she leaned to kiss him and watched him go. "So?" she asked turning back to Rachel.

"I want to talk about the routine."

"What about it?"

Walking ahead towards the benches under the trees, Rachel waited for Brooke to follow her, "Well, I just think it needs a change. Don't you?"

"No, I don't."

"Hello! Were even at practice yesterday? We were in total synchrony!"

"Yeah" Brooke crossed her arms, "Then why would I change it?"

"Because the official routine includes an extra cheerleader who twisted her ankle yesterday and weren't at most part of the practice."

"We practiced with an extra space for Haley to fit in afterwards."

Rachel shook her head looking up, "Only in the first three times. After that I asked Bevin to fill the space and stepped in right next to you. Didn't you notice?"

"You? Hardly ever" she said shooting a look at the girl, "Anyway if where you're going with all this is to ask me to count Haley out, then you're wasting your time. I'm not kicking her out."

"But the championship is in a week and she just got her ankle injured. How do you think she's gonna manage to stay all better and ready 'til then?"

"That's not your problem, now is it?" Brooke asked staring at her and then turning her back to leave her alone.

After leaving Brooke alone with Rachel, Lucas went inside the school and walking down the hallways he found Haley in front of her locker and went to her.

"Hales" he stopped next to her as she smiled to him, "Are you ok?"

She closed the locker and started to walk limping, "I'd say 90."

He took her arm and put around his, "Does it hurt?"

"Only when I walk" she says laughing.

"Right" he laughed too, "Where's Nathan to help you?"

"He's at the Coach's office. For what I understood you were supposed to be there too, weren't you?"

"Yeah, well..." he shrugged, "You seem to need help with this, so..."

"No way" she shook her head stopping in front of one of the classrooms, "I can handle it. Go talk to the Coach cause you know how he can be when we don't do what he says."

"Ok, but if you need anything..."

"I'll ask for my knight in shinning armor" she said teasing, "Now go, Luke!"

"See ya later" he walked away waving at her.

As the teacher explained something probably very important to someone at some point in their life, the students tried to keep themselves concentrated. Brooke, on the other hand, wasn't that much interested in focusing. She had a blank paper in front of her, she wrote something on it, folded carefully and quickly handed to Peyton next to her. Putting the folded paper on her lap, Peyton waited 'til the teacher looked the other way to open it up and read it.

Rachel bitch wants to kick Tutor Girl out of the squad!
The nerve of that skank!

Peyton frowned at the paper and glanced to Brooke who had a 'I know!' expression on her face. She took a pen and wrote something down. Folded the paper and handed back to Brooke.

Why would she do that?

Brooke scoffed and wrote down as she somewhat acted her reaction. The teacher saw it but didn't give much attention. She gave the note back to Peyton who opened it again.

Cause she's a slut and has no consideration to anyone!
She's all about her! Slut! Who does she think she is?
It's MY squad!

As Peyton tried not to laugh at Brooke's complaints, the teacher approached her and looked down to her, "Ms. Sawyer, unless you want to share with us what's on this note, I strongly suggest that you keep it to yourself" she turned to Brooke, "The same goes to you, Ms. Davis."

Peyton and Brooke exchange looks as Peyton puts the note inside her book.

Classes were over and the bell had just rang. The hallways were filled with kids coming and going and meeting each other. Seeing how Haley was having some serious trouble in walking straight, Brooke rushed to her all hyper.

"Careful there, Tutor Girl! We don't want that ankle to be any more injured than already is" she smiled to the girl, "So I was thinking you could assist me today at practice, huh? I mean, you won't be dancing, but you can watch the routine to memorize it better and maybe keep an eye on Rachel and her screw ups, cause I know she does it."

"Uh..." Haley put some hair behind her ear as she stopped by the water cooler, "I don't think I'm gonna be able to go today. Sorry..."

"What? Why not?" Brooke put both hands on her waist.

"I'm sorry, Brooke. But the doctor asked me some exams to check on my dizziness and my upset stomach and I have to do them now at my lunch time."

"But if you don't go then she'll win!"

"Who'll win?" Haley frowned.

Shaking her head Brooke shrugged, "Nevermind. Your health comes first, right? Go take your exams and we'll talk later."

"Thanks" Haley smiled and walked away.

Watching the scene from a certain distance, Rachel waited 'til Haley was gone to come closer to Brooke and peek above her shoulder, from behind her.

"Where's she going?"

"To the doctor's" Brooke answered annoyed.

"Did her ankle get twisteder over night?"

Brooke scoffed and turned to her, "Your face will get twisteder if you don't back off and drop this stupid idea of kicking Haley out cause it ain't gonna happen."

"I'm sorry, but isn't she missing practice again? That's gonna be the second practice she'll be missing in less than a week for the Nationals."

"I can do the math, thanks."

"Really?" Rachel asked getting closer to her, "Then you can start to calculate what's gonna be our score at the championship once the judges see exactly what we did last practice: a routine with a big space to be filled. That's gonna count a lot to the 'harmony' category" with one eyebrow raised up, Rachel stared at Brooke for a brief moment and turned her back to walk away.